Shockwave therapy

Shockwave therapy (including extracorporeal shockwave therapy, ESWT) refers to the medical application of high-energy acoustic waves to treat a variety of clinical conditions. Originally developed for lithotripsy (kidney stone fragmentation), it is now widely used for musculoskeletal disorders (such as tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, and bone healing), wound healing, and other regenerative applications[1][3][4][7]. The biological effects are mediated by mechanotransduction, where mechanical energy from the shockwaves is converted into cellular biochemical signals. This leads to increased cell membrane permeability, stimulation of growth factors, angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels), and modulation of inflammation, among other effects[3][4][5][6]. Shockwave therapy is *not* a molecular target, enzyme, transporter, ion channel, or receptor; it is a physical therapeutic modality that triggers a range of downstream molecular and cellular responses in tissues. Therefore, it does not fit the classification of molecular therapeutic targets.

Other names

Shock wave therapyExtracorporeal shockwave therapyESWTExtracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy